Disobedience to Parents: A Capital Offense?

[Aaron]

A debate on another topic prompted this question. This is a question about your views on capital punishment, not child rearing.

And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard . . . and all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die . . . (Deu 21:20-21)

[the] disobedient to parents . . . are worthy of death . . . (Rom 1:30-32)

For those who advocate capital punishment for murder, and cite the law as evidence that your views are right, do you also advocate capital punishment for adultery and disobedience to parents? Why or why not?

 

[Pastor David]

Aaron,

Capital punishment was instituted by God prior to the giving of the law at Sinai. See Gen 9. The laws which imposed capital punishment for those things such as adultery and wanton adolescent disobedience under the Old Economy appear to have been "fulfilled" (Matt 5:17) with the advent of Christ. For example, Jesus does not condemn the woman caught in adultery. Also Paul does not advocate for the death penalty for the son caught in an affair with his step mother (making him both disobedient and an adulterer). So while capital punishment is still enforce for those who unlawfully take another life, the "lesser" crimes found in the civil code of OT Israel do not necessarily carry the same inherent degree of penal sanction.

I hope this helps.

 

[THEOLDMAN]

A debate on another topic prompted this question. This is a question about your views on capital punishment, not child rearing.



For those who advocate capital punishment for murder, and cite the law as evidence that your views are right, do you also advocate capital punishment for adultery and disobedience to parents? Why or why not?

I would also like to know if they eat catfish,pork or shrimp ! Great question Aaron...I don't think we will see many answer.

 

[Heavenly Pilgrim]

Pastor David: So while capital punishment is still enforce for those who unlawfully take another life, the "lesser" crimes found in the civil code of OT Israel do not necessarily carry the same inherent degree of penal sanction.

HP: Well said Pastor. I agree. :thumbs:

 

[Marcia]

I would also like to know if they eat catfish,pork or shrimp ! Great question Aaron...I don't think we will see many answer.

These laws were given specifically and exclusively to Israel. The Law was not given to anyone outside of Isreal.

This law on diet was to show Israel the distinction between clean and unclean, since they were living among and near pagan nations who sacrificed children, worshiped false gods, had debauched rituals, practiced occult arts such as contact with the dead, etc.

This strenous effort to abide by these regulations showed the Hebrew people what sin was and how holy God is in comparison. The law was a standard to reveal God's holiness and the need to be set apart from pagan nations.

 

[Aaron]

Aaron,

Capital punishment was instituted by God prior to the giving of the law at Sinai. See Gen 9. The laws which imposed capital punishment for those things such as adultery and wanton adolescent disobedience under the Old Economy appear to have been "fulfilled" (Matt 5:17) with the advent of Christ. For example, Jesus does not condemn the woman caught in adultery. Also Paul does not advocate for the death penalty for the son caught in an affair with his step mother (making him both disobedient and an adulterer). So while capital punishment is still enforce for those who unlawfully take another life, the "lesser" crimes found in the civil code of OT Israel do not necessarily carry the same inherent degree of penal sanction.

I hope this helps.

Do you believe the Noahic Covenant is still in effect, and is universal and non-optional? (Genuine question.)

 

[Pastor David]

Do you believe the Noahic Covenant is still in effect, and is universal and non-optional? (Genuine question.)

I believe God is faithful and will keep His word. In the covenant promise to Noah, the Lord promises to not destroy the world in that manner again. To which the rainbow was given as a sign of His abiding promise. As to the specific notion that for a life, a life is required, yes, I believe this is the beginning and function of the civil authority - to administer justice (Rom. 13).

 

[Aaron]

These laws were given specifically and exclusively to Israel. The Law was not given to anyone outside of Isreal.

This law on diet was to show Israel the distinction between clean and unclean, since they were living among and near pagan nations who sacrificed children, worshiped false gods, had debauched rituals, practiced occult arts such as contact with the dead, etc.

This strenous effort to abide by these regulations showed the Hebrew people what sin was and how holy God is in comparison. The law was a standard to reveal God's holiness and the need to be set apart from pagan nations.

...and our need for Christ.

The law was to all God's elect, even to Ruth the Moabitess who became a child of Abraham by faith, and is in the lineage of Christ.

 

[Aaron]

I believe God is faithful and will keep His word. In the covenant promise to Noah, the Lord promises to not destroy the world in that manner again. To which the rainbow was given as a sign of His abiding promise. As to the specific notion that for a life, a life is required, yes, I believe this is the beginning and function of the civil authority - to administer justice (Rom. 13).

This is good.:thumbs:

Under Moses, why do you think adultery and disobedience to parents were capital offences as well as murder? (I'm focusing on violations of the moral law, which I also believe to be universal and non-optional.)

My opinion is that these violations jeopardize the general welfare of a society most of all.

 

[Pastor David]

...and our need for Christ.

The law was to all God's elect, even to Ruth the Moabitess who became a child of Abraham by faith, and is in the lineage of Christ.

Actually the law of God is written on every heart - though suppressed in unrighteousness in many, if not most (Rom. 1).

 

[Pastor David]

This is good.:thumbs:

Under Moses, why do you think adultery and disobedience to parents were capital offences as well as murder? (I'm focusing on violations of the moral law, which I also believe to be universal and non-optional.)

My opinion is that these violations jeopardize the general welfare of a society most of all.

Many of the sundry judical laws of OT Israel did serve to provide for the common interest and welfare of the people. And while adultery and disobedience to parents remain heinous sins against God, this does not necessarily mean that they remain civil crimes for all times. They may, they may not. Actually, if we study the way the NT handles these and other issues from the OT Mosiac law code, it appears they become more of an ecclesiastical matter than a civil one.

 

[Aaron]

Many of the sundry judical laws of OT Israel did serve to provide for the common interest and welfare of the people. And while adultery and disobedience to parents remain heinous sins against God, this does not necessarily mean that they remain civil crimes for all times. They may, they may not. Actually, if we study the way the NT handles these and other issues from the OT Mosiac law code, it appears they become more of an ecclesiastical matter than a civil one.

Do tell . . .